((Slivin, Mess Deck))

Kerak had Plej assemble all crewmembers who weren’t currently on duty. They had returned to Derganix and returned the small team of Starfleet Engineers who had helped repair their power coupling to the Soval. There wasn’t much left for a cloakable attack ship to do in the Duwalla system.

After the Accords had been signed, Kerak made sure to inform Daimon Pogg that Klingon vessels would be routinely patrolling through and near their system, just to make sure the stipulations of the deal were being met. It was an empty threat, mostly, but it would make Pogg think twice before trying to enslave an entire species for profit.

“We have received new orders from the Task Force commander. There has been some trouble in other areas of the expanse. We are going to begin a patrol deeper into the expanse before circling back towards Framheim Station.”

“Hunting more rogue Ferengi sir?” Joked an engineer.

“No, we have 2 different foes we will be searching for. A rogue section native to the expanse known as the Pilgrims who may be flying any manner of spacecraft. The other target of our patrol is 1 or more of the breakaway Romulan Free State. Yes, my friends, we shall go hunt our old nemesis once more.”

“A mission worthy of song.” Plej said.

Spurred on by the chance to go and spill green blood, the crew began cheering and shouting in excitement.

“Tomorrow at 0600h we depart. Until then…Plej, crack open a barrel of blood wine. The 2377, it was a good year.” Kerak said as the crew continued to cheer and rabble rouse.

“We defeated a Gorn Invasion of the Hromi cluster as I recall. I was on the Farang cleaning the mess deck of Ju’targs Flagship.” Plej reminisced.

Kerak had actually just returned from his short term discommendation and psuedo-banishment on exchange to Starfleet where served as a tactical officer on the USS Destiny. He had spoken out about Gowron’s erratic and dangerous lack of strategic acumen shortly after the Klingon-Cardassian War of 2373 which had led to the Empire withdrawing from the Khitomer Accords for nearly a year. In 2377 was a Sogh’la commanding a flanking attack for one of the ground regiments of the House, it was a good year indeed.

“Finally, a real mission uncle, I’ve never fought the Romulans before.” His niece said after cheering along with her shift mates.

“They are a dangerous and duplicitous enemy Ba’met, make sure you’re getting excited for the right reasons, and not just because it’s new to you” he placed an arm around his niece in an unusual sign of compassion and slowly turned and walked her away from the crowd.

“Lack of purpose is the enemy of both efficiency and morale aboard any warship, child.” Kerak said in a hushed tone.

“Cha’vey uncle, cha’vey.” She understood the point he was making, but she still wanted to spill some green blood just like the rest of the warriors aboard the Slivin. She too showed a sign of fondness, and hugged her ornery old uncle.

“Now, go help Plej with the barrel and the mugs. He, not you, or Mareg, or I is the actual beating heart of this ship. Befriend him, he’ll teach you all that I might omit and then some.” Kerak said before showing her off in the direction of the store room.

“How is the engine room Lt?” Kerak asked Vord, his chief engineers

“The ships not been in this fine a shape in years sir. That Lt. Tesa from the Blythe might have some strange ideas but life and how and engine works, but she and her worked wonders.” The engineer said.

“Good, we’ll likely be at warp for much of the next few weeks, I dont want that coupling overloading itself again.”

“It won’t sir, as long as you don’t have us drop out of warp in an atmosphere and engaged our tractor beam and stop of starship that weighs a quarter million tons from smashing into a fucking planet Cap.” Vord reminded the Captain.

Kerak glared at Vord for a second before bursting out laughing.

“There’s the insubordinate truth teller I saved from the stockade a decade ago. But, in fact that was all my niece idea. Lets go get some blood wine my old friend.” Kerak slapped Vord on the shoulder.